2016 WATCH: Marco Rubio's Big Education Reform Speech

WASHINGTON — Sen. Marco Rubio delivered a short speech
about education on Wednesday,
discussing the need to modernize education for a new century and
ensure that students receive the skills necessary to succeed in
the changing job market.

Speaking at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as part of a larger
event on coordination between the business community and
educational institutions, the likely 2016 presidential contender
said that a “fundamental obstacle to economic progress is the skills
gap that exists in our nation. The fact of the matter is that
millions of our people do not have the skills that they need for
the 21st century.”

Rubio said that many students are now older and have some work
experience.

“For the life of me, I don’t understand why we have stigmatized
career education in this country,” Rubio said.

He called for federal financial aid to be extended to
non-traditional learning institutions, such as online courses or
technical training, and for students to be provided with more
information about potential costs and salaries before taking out
a student loan.

It was a short, almost perfunctory-seeming speech, running just
over 12 minutes in length. The senator did not stick around
afterward, chatting only briefly with several people before
making a hasty exit.

Rubio discussed education as an important factor in preserving
the American middle class, a message he has seized on in his
recent speeches, and one that is expected to carry over into a
potential presidential run.

In speaking about education, he ventured into the territory of
one of his likely 2016 competitors, Louisiana Gov. Bobby
Jindal, who has made it almost a signature issue of his
governorship. Jindal spoke at the Brookings Institute here last
month on the subject, and he has made education reform
and school choice a big part of his
agenda as governor.